Karmelitánské nakladatelství (Carmelite Publishing House)

Karmelitánské nakladatelství (KNA), known in English as the Carmelite Publishing House, is a Czech publishing house focused on Christian and Catholic literature. It was founded in 1991 by the Order of Carmelites based at the monastery in Kostelní Vydří. Initially operating under the trade licence of Carmelite Vojtěch Kodet, it became a separate legal entity in 1995 as KARDIS s.r.o., renamed Karmelitánské nakladatelství s.r.o. in 1998. Since the late 1990s it has been the domestic leader in the Czech market for Christian and Catholic book production. The company publishes books for a wide audience: men and women, families with children, clergy and pastoral workers, theology students, participants in spiritual exercises, religious teachers, catechists, and general readers. Its catalogue includes more than 200 authors, such as Anselm Grün, Viktor Frankl, Józef Augustyn, and Vojtěch Kodet. In addition to its own book production, KNA distributes books from other publishers and offers monastery products, mass wines, liturgical items, devotionals, and digital media subscriptions. It operates 11 brick-and-mortar stores across the Czech Republic under the name Karmelitánská knihkupectví, as well as an e-shop on the Cirkev.cz portal with approximately 5,000 items. The company also has wholesale distribution and serves customers in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Ownership changed over time: after financial difficulties, the Czech Bishops' Conference became the sole owner on 1 March 2019. On 30 April 2022, the company was dissolved by merging into Katolický týdeník, s.r.o., which then renamed itself KatMedia, s.r.o. Book production continues under the Karmelitánské nakladatelství brand, and the retail network operates as Karmelitánská knihkupectví. The headquarters moved to Prague in 2016. KNA remains one of the largest publishers of religious literature in the Czech Republic.

The publishing house traces its origins to 1991, when books under the "Karmelitánské nakladatelství" imprint began to be published, initially under the trade licence of Carmelite Vojtěch Kodet. From 1994, the publishing activity was conducted under the trade licence of the Czech-Moravian General Delegation of the Order of Carmelites. On 12 December 1995, the publishing house became a separate legal entity in the form of a limited liability company, first named KARDIS s.r.o., and from 25 November 1998 under the name Karmelitánské nakladatelství s.r.o. In this company, the Order of Carmelites was the sole partner with a contribution of 30 million CZK. Since the late 1990s, KNA has been the domestic leader in the market for Christian and Catholic book production. In 2013, due to long-term poor economic results, the entire management of the company, including director Jan Fatka, was dismissed. As a result of the capitalization of creditors' claims, in 2016 another 16 entities became partners of Karmelitánské nakladatelství with a total ownership share of almost 92% (Czech Bishops' Conference 16%, Karmel sv. Josefa 12%, Archdiocese of Prague 12%, School Sisters of St. Francis 10%, Diocese of České Budějovice 6%, etc.). Eventually, on 1 March 2019, the Czech Bishops' Conference became the sole owner of the company, having bought out the other shares. The company headquarters moved to Prague in 2016. On 30 April 2022, the company ceased to exist by merging into Katolický týdeník, s.r.o., which then renamed itself KatMedia, s.r.o. Book production continues to be published under the Karmelitánské nakladatelství brand, and the retail network of 11 stores is operated under the name Karmelitánská knihkupectví. In July 2005, KNA established a subsidiary in Slovakia, Karmelitánské nakladateľstvo, s.r.o., but after ten years of existence, in November 2015, it entered liquidation by decision of the Czech Karmelitánské nakladatelství.

• 2022

  On 30 April, the company is dissolved by merging into Katolický týdeník, s.r.o., which renames itself KatMedia, s.r.o.; book production continues under the KNA brand.

• 2019

  On 1 March, the Czech Bishops' Conference becomes the sole owner of KNA.

• 2016

  Company headquarters moves to Prague; 16 entities become partners with almost 92% ownership after capitalization of creditors' claims.

• 2015

  In November, the Slovak subsidiary enters liquidation by decision of the Czech Karmelitánské nakladatelství.

• 2013

  Due to long-term poor economic results, the entire management including director Jan Fatka is dismissed.

• 2005

  In July, a subsidiary Karmelitánské nakladateľstvo, s.r.o. is established in Slovakia.

• 1998

  On 25 November, the company is renamed Karmelitánské nakladatelství s.r.o.

• 1995

  On 12 December, the publishing house becomes a separate legal entity as KARDIS s.r.o.

• 1994

  Publishing activity continues under the trade licence of the Czech-Moravian General Delegation of the Order of Carmelites.

• 1991

  Books begin to be published under the Karmelitánské nakladatelství imprint, initially under the trade licence of Carmelite Vojtěch Kodet.

Leading Czech publisher of Christian and Catholic literature, combining publishing with a nationwide retail and distribution network.

• Books on Christian and Catholic spirituality

• Theology and religious studies literature

• Children's and family books

• Liturgical items and devotionals

• Monastery products and mass wines

• Digital media subscriptions (Katolický týdeník, Fermentum, Rodinný život)

1. 1Karmelitánské nakladatelství a online knihkupectvíkna.cz
2. 2About KNAkna.cz
3. 3Karmelitánské nakladatelstvíwikidata.org
4. 4Karmelitánské nakladatelstvícs.wikipedia.org